We’re looking forward to seeing you for the Lite Hike about 15 minutes before 10 am, this Tuesday, May 7 at the Coal Mine Ridge trailhead.

We’ll walk under 4 miles of connecting trails, through woodlands and across some grasslands, with views of the Bay.  The trails are hard packed earth and two people wide. It’s spring.  We should see late spring wildflowers fungi and possibly poison oak off the trail. The total gain over the two miles to the turnaround point is about 500 feet. About 250 feet occurs in the first half mile. The next mile undulates with stretches of a hundred yards or so of steeper trail. The woodlands include large old oaks, toyons and firs. We will stop for a break at the turnaround at a large old oak.

An informative brochure about the Nature Preserve and its trails is available at the Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve of Portola Valley website at: cmrnp.org.

Directions:  Take Page Mill Rd. west. Turn right/north on I 280.  Drive 2 miles and take the Alpine Rd exit.  Turn left/west and drive 4 miles to the trailhead, which is on the left, and has a large sign visible from Alpine Road. Park opposite on the right along Alpine Rd. or turn right at the corner at Willowbrook Dr. and park.  Use 110 Willowbrook Dr for cellphone directions.  It shows Alpine Trail at the trailhead on Google maps.

Please remember to bring your name tag, water, and good shoes for the trail.      

The hikers will meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 10am.  Please arrive 5-10 minutes early.  The hikes will take 1.5 to 2 hours to complete (3-4 miles), with hills to climb and paths that are uneven and unpaved.  It will be moderately fast paced with no easy way to leave the group part-way through.

Make sure you bring water with you and have the appropriate equiment (i.e. sturdy shoes, sun protections, walking sticks if needed).